Air conditioning apparatus



March 30,1937. M M PPES- 2,075,314

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1933' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1NVENTOR fig ATTO EY March 30, 1937.

M. M. SUPPES AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1933 2'Sheets-Sheet-Z 407 ,fdf

/10 -70, rflf Iva;

Patented Mar. 30, 1937 6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONINGAPPARATUS of Ohio Application April 26, 1933, Serial No. 667,981

7 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in air conditioningapparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for heating andhumidifying air to be supplied to a room or other space.

An object of my invention is to provide means responsive to thetemperature of an air heating element and means responsive to thehumidity in a space to bev heated, which means operate conjointly toprevent supply of water to the air to be heated until the temperature ofthe air heating element reaches a predetermined degree.

Another object is to provide a fan controlled by the means responsive tothe temperature of the air heating element for supplying air to theelement and for discharge into the room or space to be heated.

Another object is to provide means to control the supply of fuel to aburner for the heating element in accordance with the temperaturerequirements of the room or space to be heated.

Another object is to provide means to stop the operation of the burnerupon the occurrence of a maximum predetermined desired temperature ofthe air heated by the element.

The invention consists in the cooperative relation between the elementscomprising the apparatus, and the novelty of which will be particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of thisspecification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferredembodiment of my invention, in which drawings- Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of a heat- 35 ing apparatus, having certain portionsbroken away to show the internal construction, and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the cooperative relation betweenthe parts of the apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, l designatesgenerally a heating apparatus, such as a hot air furnace, having acasing or jacket 2 provided with an air inlet chamber 3 supplied by anair inlet conduit 4. Within the chamber 3 there is a fan 5 driven by amotor 6 preferably positioned outside of the furnace casing. The fan 5discharges the air received from the chamber 3 through a duct 1 into theinterior of the jacket or casing 2. Within the jacket 2 there is a heatradiating element 8 which is hollow and has an outlet flue 9. Theelement 8 is heated by a burner l0 positioned therein and supplied withfluid fuel, such as gas, by means of a conduit II. The supply of gasthrough the conduit is controlled by a motor operated valve 12, and theburner I0 is provided with a pilot burner l3 supplied by a conduit l4connected into the conduit H on the inletside of the valve l2. Theburner l3 con- 60 trols the valve 12 through a thermostatically operatedswitch [5 having a bimetal element l6 responsive to the flame of thepilot burner. The element I6 expands when heated by the flame of theburner l3 to permit the control rod I! to be moved toward the right ofFig. 2 under the force of the coil spring l8 so that the switch memberI9 will bridge the contacts 20, 2| and complete the circuit through thelead wires 22, 23 which are connected to terminal posts in the motorhousing 24 of the valve 12. Within the housing 24 there is an electricmotor 25 which may be operatively connected in any suitable manner tothe stem 26 of the valve member 21 controlling flow through the conduitH. The motor 25 is supplied with current directly from the main line 28and is controlled by a relay operated switch having a switch blade 29.The circuit of the motor is as follows: From the line 28 through thelead wires 30, 3|, 32, and 33 to the motor; and from the motor throughlead wire 34, switch blade 29, and lead wires 35 and 36 back to theline. In the lead wire 36 there is a control switch 31 which is normallyclosed but which may be opened to break the valve motor circuit. Also inthe motor casing 24 there is a transformer 38 having its primary sideconnected between the lead wires 32 and 36, and therefore in parallelwith the motor. The transformer secondary is connected at one side by alead wire 39 to the terminal which receives the pilot switch lead wire23. The other side of the transformer secondary is connected by a leadwire 40 to the relay coil 4! of the motor controlling relay switch. Fromthe relay coil 4| a lead-wire 42 connects to a terminal post in thecasing 24 from which a lead wire 43 leads to a terminal 44 of athermostatically operated control switch 45. This switch 45may be of anywell-known type or construction having an operating shaft 46 actuated bya bimetal coil or element for rotating the lever-arm 41 having switchblades 48, 49. The switch 45 is preferably carried by the furnace casingand has its thermostatic element positioned within the interior.

cooperable with the blade 48 which is connected by a wire 53 to aterminal post 54. The terminal 54 is connected by a lead wire 55 to onecontact 56 of a double bladed room thermostat positioned in the space orroom to be heated. The air, heated by the element 8 is forced by the fan5 through the bonnet and thence through the outlet discharge ducts orconduits 51 which are connected in the usual manner to the room or spaceto be supplied with-the heated air. The room thermostat has a bimetalcoil 58 responsive to the temperature of the room air and carryingswitch blades 58, 88 of which the blade 58 cooperates with the contact.The blade 88 cooperates with a contact 8| connected by a lead 'wire'82to a terminal 88 on the switch 45. The

terminal 83 is connected within the switch housing by a wire 84 to theblade 48 which cooperates with a contact 85 connected to a switchterminal 88 by a lead wire 81. The terminal 88 is connected by a leadwire 88 to the pilot switch lead wire 22 at its terminal within themotor housing 24. Theroom thermostat also provides a holding circuit forthe motor relay to maintain the motor energized and the valve member 21in open position. This holding circuit comprises a lead wire 88connectedtc the bimetal' element 58 of the room thermostat and to aterminal 18 on the switch housing 45. The terminal 18 is connected by alead wire 1| to a housing terminal 12 from which a lead wire 13 extendsinto the motor housing 24. The lead wire 13 terminates in a switchcontact 14 cooperable with a switch blade 15- operable by the relay coil4| and preferably connected to the blade 28 for movement therewith. Theblade 15 is connected by a lead wire 18 to the lead wire 42.

The fan 5 is controlled by a thermostatic switch 11 which may be of anywell-known type or construction and whichls carried by the furnacejacket, with the thermostatic switch operating element positioned withinthe furnace bonnet in the path of the air heated by the element 8. Theswitch 11 may have a mercury tube switch element 18 carried by a shaft18 rotated by thethermostatic operating element such as a bimetal coil,or the like,.responsive to the temperature of the gases heated by theelement 8. The element 18 contains a globule of mercury 88 operable tomake contact between the terminals 8| and within the element 18 upon thetemperature of the air within the bonnet 58 reaching a predetermineddesired minimum degree. The terminals 8|,82 are connected respectivelyto leads 83, 84 of which the lead 83 is connected within the housing 24to the lead wire 38 which connects with the line. The lead wire 84 isconnected by a wire 85 to one of the ter-.

The other terminal of minals .of the motor 5. the motor is connected bythe lead wire 88 to the lead wire 38 which connects with the line:

The heating apparatus is provided with a water spray humidifier 81 whichis supplied with water from a supply line or pipe 88 which extendsthrough the wall of the jacket 2 above theelement 8. The end of the pipe88 within the jacket is provided with a nozzle 88 directed toward asplash plate 88. The supply line may be provided with a manualregulating valve 8| and is controlled by an automatically operated valve82. The valve 82 is preferably electrically operated and of the solenoidtype having a valve plunger 83 which is lifted by a solenoid coil 84upon energization thereof. The plunger 83 has a valve head which seatsto close the valve port 88 when the coil .84 isdeenergized. One terminalof the coil 84 is connected by a lead wire 81 'to the lead wire 84 ofthe switch 11. A

manual switch 88 is preferably provided in the- The other end of thecoil 84 is lead wire 81. I connected by a lead wire 88 to a humidityresponsive control means I 88' positioned within the room or space to beheated and humidified.

The control means I 88 comprises a mercury tube switch element |8|mounted for tilting or rocking movement and containing contacts I82 andI83 adapted to be bridged by a globule of mercury I 84 when the humiditywithin the room or space is below the desired degree. The element |8| istilted by an expansible-contractible medium I85, such as a strip ofpaper held under tension by a spring I 88 and connected at one end to alever I81 having engagement with the switch element IN. The other end ofthe strip I85 is anchored, as at 88, to an adjustablesupport I88. Theswitch contact I82 is connected to the lead 88 from the valve 82, andthe contact I83 is connected by a lead wire II8 to the motor lead 88.

In order that the fan 5 may be utilized for supplying fresh air to theroom or space during that period of the year when heating is notdesired, a lead wire II I is connected to the fan motor lead 85 and tothe lead wire 38 between switch 31 and the main line. A switch 2,normally open, controls current flow through the wire III. The motor 8can therefore be independently controlled by the switch 2 which whenclosed establishes a circuit from the line through leads 38 and 88 tothe motor 8 and thence via leads 85 and III and switch 2 back to theline.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The pilot burner I3 islighted, which will heat the thermostat I5 and close the switch I5 atthe contacts 28, 2|. The main line switch and the manual switches 31 and88 are, of course,

safety limit, the switch blades 48 and 48 within the switch 45 will be,making circuit with the .contacts 52 and 85 respectively. If the roomthermostat now calls for heat, the bimetal element 58 will move theblades 58 and 88 to make contact at the contacts 58 and 8| respectively.When the circuit is completed at the room thermostat, the pilot switchI5 being closed, the relay coil 4| will be energized to makev circuitthrough the valve motor 25 to. open the main gas valve 21. The relaycircuit is as follows; From the secondary or the transformer 38 throughthe leads 38 and 23 to the pilot switch I5; and thence through leads 22and 88 to'the terminal v88 of the switch 45, through the switch lead 81,contact 85, blade 48, and lead 84 to terminal 83;

thence through lead 82, room thermostat conto the other side of thetransformer secondary through lead 48, thus completing the relaycircuit. Energization of the relay 4| attracts the switch blades 15 and28 closing the relay holding circuit and the valve motor'circuitrespectively. Contact of blade 28 with the terminal of lead wire 35permits current flow from the line through the leads 32 and 33 to themotor 25 and from the motor through lead 34, switch blade 28,

and lead 35 to thelead 38, which energizesthe motor 25 to open the valve21 so that gas will flow to the main burner I8 and be ignited by thepilot burner I3. The burner I8 serves to heat the radiating element 8and when the air within the furnace casing reaches a predeterminedminimum temperature of, say, about 150 degrees F., the thermostaticswitch 11 will be actuated to make circuit to start the fan motor 6through the following circuit: From lead wire 39 through lead 86 to themotor 6; and thence through leads 85 and 84 to the switch 11; and fromthe switch 11 through lead 83 to the lead 36. Operation of the fan 5 bythe motor 6 will draw air into the chamber 3 through the inlet 4 anddischarge the indrawn air through the furnace jacket 2 in intimate heatexchange relation with the heat radiating element 8, and'thence throughthe bonnet 59 and discharge ducts 51 to the room or space to be heated.Should the temperature within the jacket 2 and bonnet 50 rise above apredetermined desired maximum for which the switch 45 is set, the switch45 will be actuated to move the blades 48 and 49 out of engagement withtheir contacts 52 and 65 respectively to break the circuit through therelay coil 4|, which will deenergize the motor and close the valve 21,thereby stopping the burner l8. If the humidity in the room or space tobe heated is below the desired degree, the switch element I0! of thecontrol means I00 will have completed circuit between the leads H9 and99 so as to energize the solenoid coil 94 by the following circuit: Fromfan motor lead 86 through lead H8, control means I00, lead 99, coil 94,lead 91, and switch 98 to lead 84; and thence through switch 11 to theline. Current flow throughthe coil 94 will lift the plunger 93 and openthe port 96 so that water will flow through the supply line 88 and bedischarged from the nozzle 89 within the furnace casing. The waterdischarged from the nozzle 89 willstrike against the plate 90' and befanned out thereby into the heated air stream leaving the heat radiatingelement 8, so that the heated air leaving the bonnet 50 through thedischarge ducts 5'! will be humidified. When the moisture content of theair within the room or space containing the control means I60 reachesthe desired degree, the switch element Illl will be actuated to breakthe circuit through the coil 94 so that the valvehead 95 will close theport 96 in the water supply line to stop further humidificatlon of theair supplied to the room or space. It will be noted that the controlmeans I00 and the switch 'I'l are in series circuit with the valvesolenoid coil 94, so that even though the control means I00 isunsatisfied and calling for an increase in moisture content of the air,the valve 95 will not be opened unless the switch TI is closed inresponse to a minimum temperature of the air in the furnace casing. Thisserves to prevent discharge of water into the furnace jacket when the.temperature of the air is too low to take up the supplied water whichwould result in a rusting of the parts within the furnace casing. Itwillalso be noted that the valve 95 is only operable to open the watersupply line when the fan 5 is discharging air through the furnace casingso as to further insure that the water supply will be picked up by theair stream and not be permitted to fall upon the heat radiating elementand the other parts within the furnace casing. The switch 45 also servesas a safety means to close the valve 21 in the event that the fan 5should cease to operate because in such an event the temperature Withinthe bonnet would rise rapidly above the predetermined desired degree orsafe limit at which the switch 45 will open. The room thermostat is alsooperable through its control of the main burner ID to control theoperation of the fan motor 6 and the valve 92. When the room thermostatbecomes satisfied, the burner ID will be stopped so that the temperaturein the bonnet 59 will drop. When the temperature in the bonnet fallsbelow the minimum desired temperature, the switch 11 will be opened tothereby break the fan motor and water valve circuits, thus stopping thefan and the further humldification of the air.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. An air conditioning apparatus of the character described, comprisingan air heating furnace adapted to heat air for supply to a space to beheated, a heat radiating element in said furnace, an electricallycontrolled burner for heating said element, a thermostat responsive toair temperature in the space to be heated and controlling the circuit ofsaid burner, a fan including an electric motor operable to discharge airover said element and into the space to be heated, switch meansresponsive to temperature of the air adjacent said element andcontrolling the motor circuit of said fan, the circuits of saidthermostat and said temperature responsive means being in parallelrelation, water spray means in said furnace to humidify the air passedtion of said valve by said humidity responsive means.

2. An air conditioning apparatus of the char acter described, comprisingan air heating furnace having a bonnet and adapted to supply heated airto a space to be heated, a heat radiating element in said furnace, afluid fuel burner for heating said element, a valve controlling flow offuel to said burner, a thermostat responsive to air temperature in thespace to be heated and controlling said valve, a fan operable todischarge air over said element and into the space to be heated, meansresponsive to the temperature of the air in said bonnet and controllingsaid ,fan, water spray means in said furnace to humidify the air passedover said element, a valve controlling the water supply to saidhumidifying means, means responsive to the humidity of the air in thespace to be heated and controlling said second-named valve, and saidtemperature responsive means controlling operation of said second-namedvalve by said humidity responsive means and said thermostat conair oversaid element and into the space to be heated, means responsive to thetemperature of the air adjacent said element and controlling said fan,water spray means in said furnace to humidify the air passed over saidelement, a valve controlling the water supply to said humidifying means,means responsive to the humidity of the air in the space to be heatedand controlling said second-named valve, said temperature responsivemeans controlling operation of said secondnamed valve by said humidityresponsive means, and means responsive to temperature of the air in saidbonnet and controlling said first-named valve, said last-named meansupon failure of the fan operating to reduce the temperature in 10 saidbonnet and cause operation of said firstnamed temperature responsivemeans to close said second-named valve.

4. An air conditioning apparatus of the character described, comprisingan air heating fur- 15 nace havinga heat radiating element, a fluid fuelburner for heating said element, a valve controlling flow of fuel tosaid burner, a motor for actuating said valve, a thermostatic switchresponsive to temperature in a space to be heated 20 by said furnace andcontrolling said motor, means responsive to temperature adjacent saidelement and controlling said motor, water spray means to humidify theair heated by said element, a valve controlling the supply of water tosaid spray 25 means, a solenoid for actuating said secondnamed valve, afan operable to supply air to said heating element for discharge intothe space to be heated, a motor for driving said fan, a switchresponsive to air temperature adjacent said ele- 30 ment and in seriescircuit with said fan motor and said solenoid and in parallel circuitwith said thermostatic switch, and a switch responsive to the humidityin the space to be heated and in series circuit with said last-namedswitch and 35 said solenoid.

5. An air conditioning apparatus ofthe character described, comprisingan air heating furnace, electrically controlled heating means therefor,a thermostat responsive to air temperature 4 in the space to be heatedfor controlling the circuit of the heating means for said furnace, anelectrically driven fan operable to discharge air through said furnaceand into the space to be heated, electrically controlled means forintro- 45 ducing water into said furnace into the air passingtherethrough, circuits therefor operatively independent of the circuitof the heating means and without the direct control of said thermostat,plural means responsive to the temperature 50 of the air within saidfurnace, the first of said last-named means operating at a predeterminedminimum temperature within the furnace to control the circuits of thefan and the water introducing means, and the second of said last-namedmeans controlling the circuit of said heating means at a predeterminedmaximum temperature to reduce the heat supplied to the furnace, saidthermostat and said second heat responsive means controlling theoperation of said fan and 60 said water introducing means indirectlythrough said first heat responsive means in response to variation of theheat supplied to the furnace, and means under control of said meansoperating at a minimum temperature and responsive to the 65 humidity ofthe air within the space to be heated for controlling the waterintroducing means.

6. An air conditioning apparatus of the character described, comprisingan air heating furnace for supply to a space to be heated, electri- 70cally operated means for controlling the heat supplied to said furnace,a thermostat switch responsive to air temperature in the space to beheated for controlling the circuit of said electrically operated means,a switch responsive to the temperature within said furnace and disposedin the circuit of said electrically operated means for controlling saidelectrically operated means to reduce the heat supplied when apredetermined maximum temperature is attained,

a motor driven fan for forcing air through the furnace and into thespace to be heated, electrically operated means for introducing waterinto said air in theifurnace, a switch responsive to a predeterminedminimum temperature within said furnace in series circuit with the fanmotor and the water introducing means, the last-mentioned circuit beingoperatively separate from the circuit of said thermostat switch and saidfirst-named furnace temperature responsive switch and without the directcontrol thereof, said several temperature responsive switches forcontrolling the supply of heat causing operation of the fan and thewater introducing means indirectly by variation I of the heat suppliedto the furnace to cause actuation of the last-named furnace temperatureresponsive means, and serving to reduce the heat supplied upon failureof the fan for any reason,

and means responsive to the humidity of the air in the space to beheated and in series circuit with said water introducing means and thetemperature responsive switch therefor. 7. An air conditioning apparatusof the character described, comprising an air. heating furnace adaptedto heat air for supply to a space to be heated, electrically operatedmeans for controlling the heat supplied to said furnace, thermostatswitches responsive to air temperature within the space to be heated andwithin the furnace respectively and in series circuit with saidelectrically operated means, a motor operated fan for discharging airinto the furnace and into thespace to be heated, electrically operatedmeans for introducing water into the air within said furnace, a switchresponsive to the humidity within the space to be heated for maintaininga predetermined degree of humidity within said space, and controllingthe circuit of said water introducing means, and switch means responsiveto temperature within said furnace in circuit with said motor and inseries circuit with said humidity responsive switch and waterintroducing means, said last-mentioned circuits being operativelyindependent oi the circuit of said thermostatic switches and without thedirect control thereof, said last-named furnace temperature responsivemeans and said thermostatic switch within the space to be heated andhumidity responsiveswitch being coordinated in operation to control thestartingofsaid fan and the opening of the water introducing means at aminimum temperature insuring effective absorption of the maximumquantity of water required for humidiiication' of the air and adequatesupply of heat to the space to be heated, and said first-named furnacetemperature responsive switch being coordinated in operation with saidlast-named furnace temperature responsive switch means to operate when amaximum temperature is attained and reduce the heat supplied to thefurnace and indirectly cause operation of the second-named furnacetemperature responsive switch to stopthe fan and close the waterintroducing means as a minimum temperature is attained. MAX M. SUPPES.

